Episode 11: El Mos


    Ellenia was already out early in the morning, so there were only the cold-faced servants in the house.


    I told the maid, who came to wake me up, that I don''t need breakfast. She went out with a bright expression at the order and no one showed any sign of taking care of me who stayed in my room all morning.


    Tch, cold-hearted people.


    Still, I felt a little better because I stayed in bed all morning.


    It was a waste to spend time like this, so I finally got up and headed to the bathroom.


    I''m so d that I know how to wash myself.


    After a simple wash with lukewarm water that cooled overnight, I headed to the dressing room.


    The clothes here were difficult to wear alone without anyone''s help, but the simple casual ones were manageable without the extra hands.


    After a while, I roughly tightened the corset, put on a tunic, and donned a simple light green dress with puff sleeves.


    I should practice wearing the dresses alone more often as I didn''t know what will happen in future


    I put on makeup lightly enough to cover my paleplexion,bed my long loose hair until it was soft and shiny, and quietly left the room.


    As I trotted down the stairs through the white marble hallway covered with carpets, I saw the guards standing like statues at the entrance facing toward the hall.


    "Is there anything you need, ma''am?"


    One of the knights, who stood impassively that I thought he might be a real statue with his eyes fixed in front of him, finally spoke with a tone which showed he couldn''t stand seeing me holding the railing and staring hard for a long time.


    "I''m sorry to interrupt. Do you know where my husband is now?"


    "I''m sorry. We don''t know where the Sire is."


    Another knight tapped on the shoulder of the knight who answered my question with businesslike politeness.


    The two exchanged serious nces for a moment.


    Oh?


    "I''m not sure, but today Lady Ellenia said she would stop by El Mos Harbor with Miss Furiana around noon."


    "Ahh"


    "……."


    "……."


    "……You know, Sire is in a very bad mood right now, and it is only the two of them who can soothe him."


    I see. The twodies were the only ones who could soothe that rotten personality. That''s too much information that I didn''t even ask.


    It must be my fault that he was in a bad mood. Yeah, I know since I am the topic.


    Everyone seemed to want me to be jealous of Freya.


    "……."


    They seemed to think Freya deserved to be in my ce right now, but did they expect me to be jealous of her and cause an uglymotion?


    I think I could see why the original Rudbeckia was particrly vicious to Freya.


    She is a tough character, but if she had been provoked by everyone around her, so it''s no wonder that…… Anyway, Isaac must be in El Mos port now.


    "I see. Thank you."


    A moment of silence passed.


    I was still gazing with a smile as the knights returned to being statues.


    Suddenly, a bitter voice rang out.


    "We''ll have a carriage ready if you need it."


    "Thank you. You are very kind."


    "……."


    * * *


    El Mos Port, was a ce where on could find an open dock scenery, lighthouses, nearby inns and bars which created a peaceful and exotic charm; and it was the first ce I stepped onto when I arrived here.


    However, the beautiful scenery of the harbor was somehow grim and eerie as guards, who were part of the city guards, and ck-armored pdins were now roaming in all directions.


    What are they doing? The atmosphere is quite serious. Are they going to have a reconnaissance and have a meeting together? Or will someone important arrive?


    I didn''t remember foreign guestsing here during this time.


    When I stopped the carriage a bit far away and walked, I saw a group of guards and pdins sitting on the stairs around a bar right beyond the low stone wall and drinking beer coolly in the daylight.


    No, they…… Are they really pdins?


    I hid behind the stone wall, peering out my eyes and looking at the busy scenery of the harbor.


    I feel like I''m turning into a real stalker because of this. It''sindeedhard to survive.


    Indeed, Isaac was there.


    The frightening husband was wandering around, talking to a ragged red-bearded-looking security guard, looking very serious. It was a relief that I easily found him than I thought.


    Now, how do I approach him?


    "That arrogant thing…."


    "Who are you talking about?"


    Oh, God, please. I thought I was going to fall off.


    I turned my head gently, suppressing the scream that almost burst for a moment.


    Then, without a mouse or bird knowing, I came to see a boy crouching in the same position as me.


    Wait, I''ve seen him somewhere……. Oh, that''s right. Isn''t he the aide who came to find Isaac at that damn pond?


    The aide blinked slowly as I stared at him for a moment. He had clear amber eyes.


    The ck hair that covered his straight forehead suddenly reminded me of Cesare, but Cesare''s hair wasn''t this kind of brownish ck hair.


    "Oh, I''m sorry if you were surprised. I feel like the madam was hiding for some reason, so I don''t know……."


    So you followed me without knowing it? I think he''s a little unique.


    Still, it''s a relief that he doesn''t exude twisted hostility like that kid Lorenzo.


    "It''s all right."


    "How are you feeling? In the pce…."


    "I am fine as you can see. Thank you for your concern."


    When I answered with a broad smile, the unique aide stared at my face for a moment, then scratched his head haphazardly and spoke in a whispering tone.


    "I''m actually a aide of sir Isaac."


    Oh, that''s a surprising fact.


    "I thought so. How long has it been?"


    "Actually, it hasn''t been long. The other kid before me had an ident, so I was lucky enough to take his ce."


    "An ident?"


    "Yeah, he sang an obscene song without realizing lord was there."


    Hmm. Why do I feel like it''s the song I know? The one Lorenzo sang……. He''s not trying to ask me if I''m curious, is he?


    "But madam, why are you hiding like this? Aren''t you here to see sir Isaac? Should I go get him?"


    "No, that''s…… I''m not here to meet him, I just dropped by because I missed him."


    "Oh, I understand. He''s the best person to be appreciated from afar. But isn''t he quite kind toward you, madam? He''ll be disappointed to know if you just left."


    I''m curious to know what this guy''s dictionary of kindness means.


    Nevertheless, I lowered my eyes down shyly.


    "Do you see that?"


    "Yes, he''s not the kind of person who would beg a woman to wait for him."


    "……."


    "Oh, please don''t tell him I said this. I might be beaten to death."


    At this point, I think he''s been beaten so much by Isaac that some screws are missing. I decided to move on to another topic.


    "But what''s going on here?"


    "Well, it''s nothing serious, but after the pce pond incident, and recently, with all the sudden sightings……."


    "Why don''t you keep your head down next time?"


    At the terrifying growl suddenly resounded above our heads, both of us, who were whispering intently, became horrified.


    Ah, my heart.


    "Sire''s words are absolutely right."


    "That''s right, that''s right. As expected, it''s perfect."


    Isaac didn''t say anything for a moment.


    The veins popped up at the temple of the man staring down at us who were smiling brightly.


    Oh, you''re scary.


    "Oh, it was madam, as expected. We also wondered with whom Endymion was hiding behind and cursing us."


    He must havemitted a lot of crimes, if they were worried about that.


    By the way, the aide''s name was Endymion.


    I slowly lifted my squatting body up. I felt a little dizzy, but it was fine.


    "Hello, Sir Ivan."


    "How are you feeling? I was worried because you must have been very surprised yesterday.… Hey Endy, get lost. Are you tactless kid?"


    He smiled so beautifully that one could see the illusion of fluttering rose petals.


    "Thank you for your concern."


    "Don''t mention it, of course. By the way, are you here to see this ferocious bastard?"


    The ferocious bastard was ring ghastly at his aide, who crept away. Then he red at me again.


    How can you be so persistent?


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to interrupt. But I wanted to thank you for yesterday……."


    "That''s something he should be grateful for, ma''am. He had the honor of his wife seeking him to talk about the situation. Don''t you think so, punk? If you have a conscience, why don''t you answer?"


    Of course, Isaac couldn''t have a conscience.


    Isaac ignored his friend''s grumbling and said what he had to say.


    "It was only natural."


    "No, of course it is. If I die, everyone will be in trouble."


    "What?"


    "Come on, madam, why don''t youe with us for lunch? This bastard will like it, too."


    Sir Ivan, who gracefully intervened, sped Isaac''srge shoulders. Ah, he had a big guts.


    "Can I really join? I''m afraid I''ll interrupt your conversation between close friends."


    "What? I think you''re misunderstanding, but we''re not very close. I didn''t even want to be friends in the first ce.…."


    "But I think Ellen and Miss Furiana will be ufortable…… I think I''d better just go home and rest."


    I was trying to appeal to the fullest that I am a pure fan with no connection with jealousy, but the reaction of the two knights was a little strange.


    "Huh? That……. Ma''am?"


    Huh? Why are you suddenly calling me?


    I tilted my head innocently. However, the faces of the two men became increasingly strange.


    Why is Isaac staring at me with his eyes wide open? I can''t get used to that sight…….


    Drip.


    It was then that I felt something flowing down my nose.